The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-16
COM MON S.
The Conductors Story.


running extras on the rail
road. A circus, travelling about thu
country, came into the town on ou
line. An order was issued for all ex
ira train for Sunday morning. [ re
ceived notice early on Tuesday morn
ing. I read the order carefully. L
gave the time of arrival in our city a
a. m. I looked again to see if it wa:
not 8 D. m. I was a teacher in the
Sabbath school. 1 had bright class
Of boys about sixteen years of age
just the right age to be interested in
circuses, and to he wide awake when
one arrived in town. My heart sank
I, protesting Christian, and, withal
a Sabbath-school teacher, detailed to
run circus train on the Sabbath, and
to arrive, too, in my own city, where
everybody knew me, just as Christians
were ready for Church.
What should I do? had worked
hard nearly nine years as a brakeman,
and had been promoted to conduc'
tor. Could I afford to lose all, by refu.
sal to do as ordered? Then I thought
of my family dependent upon me, and
said, cannot throw away all these
years of hard toll, to satisfy conscience
For expected to be discharged, if ]
refused to do as ordered. Then
thought of the boys in the Sabbath
school. What if some of them should
happen to be at the depot to see the
train, or if they were just on their way
to church as we arrived, and should
see me, as they doubtless would? ]
thought of the church aud the prayer,
meeting. Whatshould I do! l thought
of my own influence as lost for good,
and there was a desperate struggle be-
tween the evil and the good.
Ihad yet four days in which to de-
eide. How strange it was! Notice did
not usually reach us until the day pre-
vious. What long, dreary days they
seemed! And the boys heard of the
order, and were guessing what 1 would
do. They knew what I had said in
prayer-meeting about desecrating the
Sabbath, for some of them were there.
"Would he 60, or would he quit ?''
"No, he would not quit for he would
not dare to refuse to co." they said.
Saturday morning came. I must
notify the office that day what I would
do. Sleepless nights and weary days
had passed, and 1 had thought and
prayed, but T was decided. Duty
seemed clear, ve'y clear, and it was
that Christian could not run excursion
trains ON the Sabbath.
My father was deacon in the ortho-
dox church, and, just before going to
my work, went to him and told him
the story, reserving my decision to
myself, and asking his advice what to
do. I knew we'll what he would say.
What look went over his face as he
spoke! But, I said, Father, will
you help ME to get something to do? 1
shall lose my place. have devoted
nearly all my whole life to this busi-
ness, and now 1 must turn to some
thing else."
"Trust in God, my boy" he answer
ed promptly, land I will help you,
too.u
I returned to the office, and walked
up to the manager as he sat, and said
in respectful tone: II have been de-
tailed to run the circus train Sunday
morning, and I cannot do it on the
Sabbath"
Imagine my establishment as he
looked me in the face and said You /!
been detailed to run Sunday trains E!
I am surprised! You go right home
and don't you worry abont Sunday
trains"
T have never been detailed for Sun
day work since. But the men who Of
fered to do aOork for extra pay upon the
Sabbath haze long since been diScharg-
ed.-COngregdtionatiSt.